The alcoholic beverage popularized by Dickens and its connection to Saint Nicholas

 – Sarah Robsdottir, OSV

Merry Christmas, Bob!‘ said Scrooge with unmistakable sincerity, patting him on the back. ’A merrier Christmas, Bob, my dear friend, than I have given you in many years! I'll raise your salary and do my best to help your family, who are struggling, and we'll discuss your affairs this very afternoon, Bob, over a Christmas mug of ’Smoking Bishop'.

This final exchange from ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens shows a repentant Ebenezer Scrooge serving his long-mistreated employee Bob Cratchit a steaming cup of Smoking Bishop. This is a spiced, citrus-flavored red wine concoction that takes its name from the color of the drink, which matches a bishop's hat or “mitre.”.  

Medieval origins

“Its whimsical name [also] recalls its medieval origins, when it was sometimes served at town halls and university banquets in bowls that resembled the shape of a bishop's miter,” explains Andrea Broomfield in her book Food and Cooking in Victorian England: A History.

Cedric Dickens, great-grandson of Charles Dickens, discusses the significance of the hot alcoholic beverage and its place in the final scene of ‘A Christmas Carol’ in the introduction to his book ‘Drinking with Dickens’: People love to talk about [Charles Dickens], possibly because he was the champion of the common man... Take, for example, ‘A Christmas Carol’... 

Yes, even poor Bob Cratchit, who earned a pittance, prepared his punch at Christmas. The Bob Cratchits, and indeed all the characters from Dickens' world, live on in our imagination and, in fact, continue to exist. 

Common wines in Victorian England

Among Broomfield and Cedric Dickens‘ comments on the ’Smoking Bishop,’ as well as the numerous tutorial videos on the festive drink, it is easy to conclude the following. 

Although these mulled wines were already common in Victorian England before the publication of Dickens's 1843 Christmas masterpiece, the hot, citrusy drink with cloves, wine, and port became an even more popular Christmas staple, appearing at parties and outdoor fairs in the years that followed. 

The Netherlands: Bishop's wine on St. Nicholas Eve

Long before that, however, the English traditions of mulled wines and ciders spread to many European countries. 

The Dutch still make Bisschopswijn, or bishop's wine, to celebrate St. Nicholas Eve, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on December 6. 

The holiday commemorates the death of the historical “Santa Claus,” the fourth-century bishop of Myra, who fought against heresy at the Council of Nicaea and whose lasting legacy is that of giving generous gifts to children.

From Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, to Santa Claus

Dutch immigrants brought the tradition to the United States, where Saint Nicholas, “Sinterklaas,” evolved phonetically into Santa Claus. Don't miss tomorrow, right here, ‘The Legend of Saint Nicholas: The Origin of Santa Claus.’.

The San Nicolás Center exists to promote devotion to this beloved saint and is a valuable resource full of historical facts, anecdotes, and creative ways to celebrate the upcoming holiday. 

Bisschopswijn, very similar to Obispo Humeante

His recipe for Bisschopswijn is almost identical to the ingredients in the recipe for Steaming Bishop, written by Cedric Dickens.

I have a feeling that the recipe below is a drink that your great-grandfather would have welcomed with open arms. Enjoy it in moderation, in good health, and with a spirit of gratitude! 

Recipe for Bisschopswijn (Dutch bishop's wine)

(Courtesy of the San Nicolás Center. Traditional drink for the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, December 6).

1 liter of red wine
1 lemon
1 orange
20 cloves (spice).
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 cinnamon stick
a pinch of mace and saffron (optional)

Wash and dry the lemon and orange. 

Insert 10 cloves into each one. 

Place the wine, sugar, lemon, orange, and cinnamon (and mace and saffron tied in muslin, if using) in a saucepan. 

Cover and simmer gently. 

Lower the heat and let the wine simmer for about 1 hour. 

Remove the spices and fruit. 

Heat the wine again, but do not let it boil. 

Serve in heat-resistant glasses. 

Enjoy your meal!

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– Sarah Robsdottir is a Catholic convert and mother of seven children whom she homeschools. Her latest novel, Juana of Arkansas, was published by Voyage Publishing earlier this year. Visit Sarah at www.sarahrobsdottir.com.

– This information was originally published in English on OSV News. You can consult it here. here.

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